the ancient city of Oxtankah sits mostly forgotten on the lush but often overlooked southern tip of Quintana Roo Oxtankah was among the most prosperous centers in the region and the largest city in the Bay of Chetumal Later in its history set the stage for some of the first conflicts between the Yucatec-Maya and their would-be European colonizers Oxtankah is an archaeological site in the south of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on the outskirts of the small fishing community of Calderitas just north of the state capital of Chetumal Oxtankah can be interpreted to mean “among three villages,” or alternatively “among the breadfruit tree” — known locally as the ramon.  The name Oxtankah was given to the site in the 1930s by the archaeologist Alberto Escalona Ramos The true name of the ancient city has been lost to time Archaeological evidence suggests that Oxtankah was first settled by Mayan peoples sometime in the 6th century BCE as a fishing village likely in part to its control over maritime access to the Bay of Chetumal Oxtankah appears to have experienced a significant boom in its population and economy At about this time we begin to see the first examples of monumental construction being erected at the site as well as a large port on the nearby island of Tamalcab Oxtankah would remain an important Mayan center of commerce for 2,000 years until the arrival of the Spanish and the eventual conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula.  Oxtankah has another advantage as the city was located near several cenotes which provided an endless source of water for the cities population the city also constructed a large series of chultunes or cisterns which were used to collect rainwater and farm more efficiently.  this likely has to do with the city’s location on the coastline and the dangers posed by hurricanes.  Due to a general lack of primary sources found at the site piecing together how exactly Oxtankah fit into the region’s political landscape is rather difficult But given its strategic location and control of the Bay of Chetumal it is certain to say that Oxtankah would have carried significant heft in the game of Mesoamerican power politics.  the first architectural complex you will likely notice is the bemusingly named “bee plaza.” The largest building in this complex is a three-level construction designated Structure IV El Palacio likely served as the residence of Oxtankah’s lords as well as a meeting place for the city’s elites as well as dignitaries from other city-states.   The truncated pyramidal structure known simply as Structure IV is one of the most unique found in the entire site Within its chambers archaeologists have discovered three tombs likely belonging to notable lords as the rich funerary items found with them included several jade objects as well as a great number of fine ceramics.  Toward the north of the site lay Structure VIII a pyramid-like temple with a wide central stairway The top level of the structure seems to have been severely damaged the pyramid appears to have been plundered for construction materials during the era of European conquest So what exactly did the Europeans use these ancient stones to build The design of this early 16th-century chapel closely resembles that of its more famous cousin at Dzibilchaltún in northern Yucatán The chapel features an arched entrance and altar likely dedicated to the worship of the virgin Mary The construction of the chapel was ordered by Alonso de Ávila a Spanish conquistador who would go down to take part in the conquest of Tenochtitlan — modern-day Mexico City.  There is an urban legend of sorts that claims that an earlier and smaller chapel once existed at the same location as the one presently visible at Oxtankah The story goes that this previous chapel had been built by a shipwrecked Spanish sailor named Gonzalo Guerrero This presumably would have been before Guerrero’s adoption of Mayan culture and religion Given its location just 15 kilometers north of downtown Chetumal Local tour companies offer guided visits to the site but getting there on your own is really quite simple as signage and roads are good.  Oxtankah is seldom visited by more than a handful of tourists a day so chances are you will have it mostly for yourself.  Visiting the site usually takes no more than a couple of hours so if you are feeling adventurous it is possible to visit Chacchobén the same day Just note that although the two sites appear to be quite close there are a number of lagoons and small peninsulas in Chetumal That means that it will take at least an hour or so to get from one site to the other there are several great restaurants and cenotes to cool off in the area As with all archaeological sites in Mexico it is prohibited to bring in food or drink other than water The entrance fee is 55 pesos Monday through Saturday And on Sunday admittance is free for Mexican nationals and foreign residents with ID Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and translation degrees from universities in Mexico Tucked between five-star resorts along Cancún’s hotel zone sits the remains of the prehispanic settlement of San Miguelito We are in the middle of a massive remodel of a beautiful condo water-view home was built and furnished in 2008 Our goal is to bring everything in on time and on budget so that the owners can list the condo for sale by Jan Is leather a smart choice for your sofa or sectional in Yucatán Government travel warnings tell us that Zacatecas is not a “safe state” like Nayarit or Yucatán but to discount it completely would be a mistake Zacatecas can be seen as a microcosm of sorts regarding the ills that afflict Mexico in general Zacatecas is known for its baroque architecture Exploring the rarely visited Mayan city of Xoch in the Puuc Valley of fireworks can overwhelm your confused and startled pet Here are some tips from a celebrity dog behaviorist on helping your pet cope Advertise With Us This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Cancun has always been the most popular tourist destination in the state of Quintana Roo but for me it's what lies beyond that's far more fascinating are some of Quintana Roo's best-kept secrets -- secrets that are on the brink of becoming the next big "it" spots in Mexico It seems that my little secret in Mexico is out "Although Chetumal is the capital city of Quintana Roo the city and its surrounding region of Grand Costa Maya is still underexplored by travelers," said Dario Flota director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Board "The appeal of the surrounding destinations like Bacalar and Mahahual the authentic cuisine of Chetumal and the increasing hotel development in the area along with the multiple archaeological sites that are nearby shaped the airline's decision of opening its first flight to this quaint city." charming place that exudes a decidedly Caribbean vibe but is a veritable melting pot of cultures and traditions It is the gateway to southern Quintana Roo's biggest tourist destinations -- which are still quite small when compared with their northern counterparts of Cancun Among the popular destinations and attractions nearby are the towns of Bacalar and Mahahual the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the Mayan archaeological site of Kohunlich what was once a four-hour drive from Cancun has been reduced to less than an hour "The region is ideal for those interested in water activities archaeological sites and history," said Flota Bacalar is a small lake town on the banks of the body of water that shares its name The Laguna de Bacalar is known for its crystal-clear water New upscale hotels like Casa Hormiga and Habitas Bacalar cater to travelers who may have backpacked in their 20s but who still appreciate a bohemian aesthetic • Related: Bacalar beckons the adventurous Mahahual is located on the Caribbean coast a sleepy beach town that has a small cruise port as well as a sun-bleached stretch of sand lined with small It's also home to some small boutique hotels "The lodging options in the area allow travelers to feel in sync with the environment," Flota said offer peaceful stays close to the destination's natural wonders drawing visitors who want to disconnect for a while." • Related: The Mayan Train is back on track visitors who come to southern Quintana Roo are looking to disconnect serenity and a truly laid-back vibe and aesthetic Nightlife in Bacalar is virtually nonexistent Chetumal lacks the thumping clubs like those along Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen And travelers won't find the gridlock along the coastal route in Mahahual that they see in Tulum "The region features vast stretches of virgin white sand "There are some very important archaeological sites around Kohunlich and many others yet to be excavated With the arrival of the new direct flight from Miami comes the possibility that additional service could be on the way The hope among residents and business owners is that such development would be limited and would be done while preserving the environment and local culture • On the Folo podcast: Getting off the beaten path in Mexico "We would love to bring more direct flights to Chetumal We continue to monitor the attendance and growth of this route for future developments," said Flota "We hope the route raises awareness of this region therefore creating more job growth and further tourism offerings in the area." Journey Mexico's Rabinor can be counted among those who are excited about the possibilities for the future "The flight represents significant lift into this relatively unexplored stretch of Quintana Roo's incredible Caribbean coast," he said "It will also work for Europeans who crave more off-the-beaten-path destinations The [Miami] flights will allow more adventurous itineraries without having to make it all the way back to Cancun or Merida It will also spur multicountry travel between Mexico Recent violence and insurgence of the cartels in Mexico have become a cause for concern for Belizeans who frequent Chetumal The violence that was once many miles away from Belize’s Santa Elena border has now made its way into neighboring Chetumal the Mexican government deployed some 200 military men to Chetumal to fight off the threats and movements of drug cartels Love News spoke with Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico Oscar Arnold who explains what is happening on the ground what are the contributing factors and the measures being taken by the Mexican Government Belizean Ambassador to Mexico: “Understand that as far back as 2019 National Guards have been deployed in the Quintana Roo area mainly in Tulum Playa to address and arrest the narco activity and the crimes that have been popping up in this tourist destination Tourism in Mexico is a $40 billion dollar a year industry and it’s not something that the authorities are taking lightly and for that reason I want to think that you see two hundred national guards who are supported by air by helicopter and also armored vehicles have been sent in specifically to the Chetumal area to arrest and address the problems that they’ve been seeing spiking Information reaching us is that it’s two rival groups who have a turf war going and so there have been targeted attempts on the lives of individuals The authorities like I said have sent these national guards to support the municipal and the state police in that area Yesterday evening there was a meeting that the governor of Quintana Roo her Excellency Mara Lizama Espinosa headed along with the Secretary of Government Christina Torres Gomez and they basically met with the business community to try to give them a report as to what was taking place what the response from authorities were and what to expect over the next few days Everything that I say or that I have said I want to position it in the context that on June 2nd there will be the largest elections ever in Mexican history they’ll be voting for other members of their Camara de Deputados they will be voting for municipal leaders and this is the largest elections with the amount of seats that are up for grabs Historically around this time or nearer to elections there’s always been an uptick in violence in Mexico City Not to say that that should be regularized or that should be accepted but that also plays an impact or has a part to play in the rise in criminal activity that we’re experiencing.”  One of the concerning factors on the current situation in Chetumal is a video purportedly recorded by members of a cartel.  The group of masked men has reportedly instilled fear in the citizens in the city of Chetumal.  Ambassador Arnold says that the Mexican military is increasing its presence in the areas and have made numerous arrests so far Belizean Ambassador to Mexico: “I did see the social media post that you’re referring to Authorities are very careful to say if it is a narco group or a group of persons We’ve seen where in the past groups have used social media and social media posts to try to strike fear in the heart of the citizenry because then once you have a hypersensitive or you have a citizenry that’s on the edge then that is 50% of the battle For the most part the authorities at the meeting yesterday asked the citizenry to be calm to not be flustered and be influenced by these social media posts because the authorities are aware of it and they are doing everything that they can plus more to try to arrest the situation There’s been about maybe fourteen detentions and arrests over the past twenty four hours of individuals who have been linked or who have been known to be involved in nefarious activities in and around Chetumal.” the most recent cases of violence have been the execution of a businessman as well as execution of the head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security and former director of the Cancún Prison and the kidnapping of a captain of the Mexican Army Love News understands that in a recent arrest Police uncovered five high-powered weapons coupled with a thousand cartridges of ammunition and website in this browser for the next time I comment Love FM was founded in 1993 as a small private radio station and has since grown into a nationwide entity providing Belize and listeners overseas with in-depth coverage of current events occurring in the country Copyright © 1994 - 2025 Love FM | News & Music Power Six patients at the Eloísa Angulo McLiberty Clinic in Chetumal received the best Christmas present they could hope for — the chance to ring the clinic’s bell It’s not just any old bell: it’s a special ceremony for inpatients who have been declared free of cancer which came after some three years of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the clinic “Each one has a different story and we celebrate today that they have a happy ending,” said pediatric hematologist and clinic chief Asunción Encarnación Jiménez The declaration and ceremony mean that major treatment has ended As the patients are from different parts of Quintana Roo this has often meant hardship for both patient and family which required a transfer to another hospital for eight months before the patient and family could return home The day was special because it means a much more normal life from here on The six will still need to have monthly checkups for the next 10 years to make sure the cancer has not returned chemotherapy and other intensive treatment have ended Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most frequent cancer for children in Mexico with a rate of 122 cases for every 100,000 children aged 14 and under Although the overall five-year survival rate in developed countries is over 90% It is not known whether or how much ethnicity or differing standards of care contribute to the disparity The average age for diagnosis is 7.6 years of age but it has been found in children under 2 The clinic treats about 60 children under the age of 18 and has a 63% survival rate but no child has gone without chemotherapy because other organizations such as Casa de Amistad and the DIF family services agency have stepped in to buy medicines from abroad it received 20 new cases and saw four deaths most children do not die as a direct result of the cancer but rather through complications such as infections Source: La Jornada Maya (sp) ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC The government of Belize recently issued a warning to its citizens regarding the insecurity and violence in Chetumal the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said “The Government of Belize is monitoring the recent rise in violent crime in Chetumal Mexico and advises Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling across the Northern Border and visiting Chetumal.”  emphasized the urgency for authorities to swiftly address and remove this warning He stressed that its continuation could adversely affect the influx of Belizean visitors who significantly contribute to the local economy representing 30% of economic activity in the town He underscored the importance of government-to-government dialogue to coordinate actions and raise awareness He mentioned his role as president of Canaco and their efforts informing them of the situation in Chetumal and the measures being implemented to safeguard tourist and commercial activities Ⓒ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Great Belize Productions Ltd. | Website Development by Idealab Studios Digital Marketing there has been an uptick in cartel-related violence in neighboring Mexico News Five was in Chetumal on Thursday to find out how the recent spike in crime and the Government of Belize’s travel advisory are affecting the influx of Belizeans to Chetumal there has been a decrease in traffic across the border this is of great concern to businesses in the city There is also a fear that the violence will spill over into northern Belize a News Five’s team traveled to Chetumal to find out whether recent reports of increased cartel activities in the city are stopping Belizeans from traveling across the northern border We found that many Belizeans are still going across to shop though the numbers have undoubtedly decreased this week A genuine fear of encounters with cartel elements is on the minds of many “Well you know when I have the overall look pan it like you said it is something common in Mexico It is just sad that it is getting closer and closer to home Yo just nuh get yourself eena like any endangering predicaments or lingering where you nuh suppose to be Just as long as you the yah and you keep aware of your surrounding You just have to be cautious and know the danger do exist.” On Wednesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the situation in Chetumal It says that the Government of Belize is monitoring the recent rise in violent crime in Chetumal The ministry advised Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo there is also a real concern that the violence can spill over into Belize because I think you’d understand that some people are fearful that in fact there may be greater consequences in Belize of what’s happening in Quintana Roo we know that there’s collaboration with some already here What would be your advice to Belizeans and when they say our Belize Police Department and even military might not be able to compare to the weaponry that cartels have.” We are adequately resourced in terms of our police department and our military to handle this type of situation It won’t be any sort of mass incursion that we are expecting And so just certain individuals me We are trying to prevent and to ensure that their tentacles do not spread further we are targeting certain individuals who our intelligence is suggesting has been have been working along with them targeting those individuals and again has called on the Belize government to swiftly address and remove this warning is scheduled to meet with Mexican authorities in Chetumal on Saturday There was also a meeting held earlier this week with the Head of the Secretary of Government in Quintana Roo “They met with the business community to try to ally their fears and to introduce the plans that they are rolling out and putting in place to ensure citizen security in that area I don’t know if that when you visited Chetumal when you drive around there is these small security booths at different intersections on the corners of streets the police have said that you will see more security personnel at these security booths and there may be more road blocks where there will be enhanced due diligence where they will be asking more questions and maybe even searching vehicles these are the types of things that Belizeans should expect if they want to go to Chetumal over the next few days to a week.” Ambassador Arnold was asked if the cartel violence in Chetumal has primarily been between members of these gangs no tourist has been targeted in any attack That is the intelligence coming out of the authorities now because I have done interviews in the past when Belizeans have been killed in Tulum or in and around Cancun and the initial investigation on a few of those have revealed that Belizeans were involved in that sort of activity and get caught up in turf wars no tourist whether Belizean or any other nationality has been targeted it does seem as though it would be between rival groups.” With a recent caution issued to those traveling to Mexico the business community in neighbouring Chetumal is asking that the advisory be removed President of the Chetumal Chamber of Commerce Amir Padilla Espadas made the appeal earlier today to Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Espadas noted that the chamber is concerned as thirty percent of its revenues are from Belizean consumers “Chetumal recognizes the sovereign right of the Belizean government to advise its citizens; however we urge the Belizean government to reconsider the travel advisory as it could have a negative impact on the economies of both Chetumal and Belize Belizean visitors constitute a significant portion of Chetumal’s economic activity contributing approximately 30%.”  End of quote the business community is working closely with the Belizean Consul in Chetumal to communicate the real situation in Chetumal and the efforts being undertaken to ensure the safety of tourists and commerce Minister of Home Affairs: “That is a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs having done their consultation with our embassy in Mexico City as well as liaising with our counterparts our Mexican representatives here in Belize and that decision was taken and so for an update on that you would need to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” Padilla noted that while Belize could maintain the travel advisory until it is satisfied that the security situation has improved both sides could also engage in discussions to address the security concerns and potentially lead to a revision of the travel advisory The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory but a notice was posted yesterday evening on the ministry’s social media page local officials are keeping a close watch on the happenings in Mexico particularly the increase in violent crimes in Chetumal The advisory cautions all Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling across the northern border and visiting Chetumal “we recognize and acknowledge that the Mexican authorities have already taken specific steps to address this issue and our authorities will continue to engage with our Mexican counterparts on this matter.” End of quote Oscar Arnold has issued a caution to car dealers to be more alert when driving through Mexico Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico:“The most trafficked border crossing for individuals who are involved in this type of activity seems to be McAllen That’s the southernmost US city to the Mexico border and I guess for travel and transit purposes it’s about three to four thousand kilometers from that border to the Chetumal border but that border city of McAllen borders the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico Tamaulipas is one of those states that we see quite a bit of robberies all that sorts of stuff taking place there So it’s a very dangerous state but this is the state after you cross McAllen that you must traffic through for the first day and a half of your journey And that is why I believe that we’ve seen some robberies taking place there Some have happened through the state of Veracruz Veracruz is a very long state within the country of Mexico and in the Northern part with the border in Tamaulipas is where that activity has been taking place So I want to warn and issue a warning to our car dealers again I know this is how some people make their livelihood Some individuals have run into issues when they’ve deviated to try to save some money on tolls But what you save on tolls and what you put at risk a tour guide and his passengers were robbed of their belongings and vehicle over in Mexico Majority of the robberies and hijacking are said to be done by members of the cartel Love News understands that this sort of crime is separate from the surge in violence in Chetumal that surrounds gang territory and politics An operation was deployed in Chetumal after several violent incidents were recorded in the last few hours Given the growing insecurity in several areas of Quintana Roo and National Guard arrived in the capital municipality of Othón Pompeyo Blanco in artillery vehicles to carry out operations with local authorities Among the most recent cases of violence are the execution of businessman Jonathan “N” the execution of the head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security and former director of the Cancún Prison,Fermín Cortés Burgos allegedly for being linked to criminal groups Cortés was shot as he drove on his motorcycle on Chetumal Avenue The gunmen alighted their car and shot Cortés more than twenty times Law enforcement officers are tasked with reinforcing law and order in the state Published by The Yucatan Times